Water based ink composition for writing instrument

ABSTRACT

A water based ink composition for a writing instrument containing at least one selected from the group consisting of alkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin, alkylene oxide adducts of glycerin and alkylene oxide adducts of trimethylolpropane and further containing a colorant, a perfume and water, which is less liable to cause feathering of the lines and in which a perfume is dispersed and retained in an aqueous medium in a stable state and the fragrance lasts long.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water based ink composition for awriting instrument which sheds fragrance in writing and which impartsfaint fragrance as well to drawn lines.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, perfumes are oil-soluble, and an emulsifier or a dispersantwhich forms protective colloid is required in order to emulsify ordisperse them in water. Water-soluble resins or surfactants are used asthe protective colloid described above. In almost all water-solubleresins, however, use of a necessary and sufficient amount of a resinrequired for dispersing a perfume raises a viscosity of the liquid andmakes it inadequate for an ink for a writing instrument.

On the other hand, an emulsion which is prepared using a surfactant inan amount enough for emulsifying a perfume in a stable state is reducedin the surface tension to a large extent, so that an ink prepared usingthe emulsion has practical the problem that drawn lines are liable tocause feathering. Further, an ink prepared merely emulsifying anddispersing a perfume by the method described above involves the problemthat fragrance is shed immediately after writing but the fragrance islost soon thereafter and can not be retained for long time (nodurability).

Those which have so far been known as ink compositions for a writinginstrument containing a perfume shedding fragrance in writing include,for example, inks for a ball point pen comprising dyes, resins andorganic solvents, wherein a perfume having a compatibility with theabove inks is added (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho56-81377), perfume-containing water based inks blended with a perfume,maltosyl cyclodextrin (MCD), a colorant and water (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. Sho 63-223078) and water based inkcompositions for a writing instrument comprising a colorant, a perfume,a partially sulfonated polyester resin and water (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. Hei 8-283645).

However, the ink composition disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. Sho 56-81377 involves the problem that even if adding aperfume having compatibility, feathering is caused on a paper surface inwriting. Also, the ink composition disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. Sho 63-223078 is prepared by including aperfume in MCD and adding the above inclusion compound to a water basedink, and therefore the perfume contained in this water based ink tendsto easily be separated with the passage of time, particularly with thepassage of time at a high temperature, so that the ink compositioninvolves problems in dispersibility of the perfume and durability offragrance. Further, the ink composition disclosed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. Hei 8-283645 involves the problem thatfragrance is shed immediately after writing but the fragrance is lostthereafter and can not be retained for long time (no durability).

The present invention intends to solve the problems of the conventionaltechniques described above, and an object thereof is to provide a waterbased ink composition for a writing instrument which is less liable tocause feathering and has durability of fragrance and in which a perfumeis dispersed and retained in an aqueous medium in a stable state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Intensive researches repeated by the present inventors regarding theproblems of the conventional techniques described above have resulted insuccessfully obtaining a water based ink composition for a writinginstrument which meets the object described above by adding a specificink component to a water based ink composition for a writing instrumentcomprising a colorant and a perfume, and thus the present invention hasbeen completed.

That is, the water based ink composition for a writing instrument of thepresent invention contains at least one selected from the groupconsisting of alkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin, alkylene oxideadducts of glycerin and alkylene oxide adducts of trimethylolpropane andfurther contains a colorant, a perfume and water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiment of the present invention shall be explained below indetail.

The water based ink composition for a writing instrument of the presentinvention contains at least one selected from the group consisting ofalkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin, alkylene oxide adducts ofglycerin and alkylene oxide adducts of trimethylolpropane and furthercontains a colorant, a perfume and water.

At least one (one adduct or a mixture of two or more adducts) selectedfrom the group consisting of the alkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin,the alkylene oxide adducts of glycerin and the alkylene oxide adducts oftrimethylolpropane which are used in the present invention is used forthe purposes of a feathering inhibitor, a fragrance durability-improvingagent and inhibiting separation of the perfume.

The alkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin are prepared by adding 1 to60 moles of an alkylene oxide to polyglycerin and includes, for example,at least one obtained by adding 1 to 60 moles of ethylene oxide orpropylene oxide or a mixture thereof to a polymer of 2 to 4 moles ofglycerin such as diglycerin and triglycerin.

Also, the alkylene oxide adducts of glycerin are prepared by adding 1 to150 moles, preferably 11 to 60 moles of an alkylene oxide to glycerinand includes, for example, at least one obtained by adding 1 to 150moles of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or a mixture thereof toglycerin.

Further, the alkylene oxide adducts of trimethylolpropane are preparedby adding 1 to 60 moles of an alkylene oxide to trimethylolpropane andincludes, for example, at least one obtained by adding 1 to 60 moles ofethylene oxide or propylene oxide or a mixture thereof totrimethylolpropane.

In the present invention, a mixture of at least one of the respectivealkylene oxide adducts described above has a total content of 0.5 to 40%by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight based on the total amount ofthe ink composition.

If a content of these alkylene oxide adducts is less than 0.5% by weightbased on the total amount of the ink composition, thefeathering-inhibiting effect, the fragrance durability-improving effectand the perfume separation-inhibiting effect are inferior, and theeffects of the present invention can not be displayed. On the otherhand, if the content exceeds 40% by weight, the ink is less liable to bedried when transferred onto a paper face, and when it is used for a ballpoint pen, a discharge amount of the ink from the pen tip is reduced.Accordingly, the such contents are not preferred.

The colorant used in the present invention includes, for example,pigments and water soluble dyes.

The pigment shall not specifically be restricted and includes at leastone selected from inorganic and organic pigments, titanium oxide andpseudo pigments obtained by coloring resin emulsions with dyes, all ofwhich are conventionally used for a water based ink.

The inorganic pigments include, for example, carbon black, metal powderand the like.

The organic pigments include, for example, azo lakes, insoluble azopigments, chelate azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene andperinone pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dyelakes, nitro pigments and nitroso pigments.

To be specific, included are inorganic pigments such as carbon black,titanium black, zinc oxide, red iron oxide, chromium oxide, mica titan,black iron oxide, cobalt blue, yellow iron oxide, viridian, zincsulfide, lithopone, cadmium yellow, vermilion, cadmium red, chromeyellow, molybdate orange, zinc chromate, strontium chromate, whitecarbon, clay, talc, ultramarine, precipitated barium sulfate, barytepowder, calcium carbonate, white lead, Prussian blue, manganese violet,aluminum powder and bronze powder, C. I. Pigment Blue 1, C. I. PigmentBlue 15, C. I. Pigment Blue 17, C. I. Pigment Blue 27, C. I. Pigment Red5, C. I. Pigment Red 22, C. I. Pigment Red 38, C. I. Pigment Red 48, C.I. Pigment Red 49, C. I. Pigment Red 53, C. I. Pigment Red 57, C. I.Pigment Red 81, C. I. Pigment Red 104, C. I. Pigment Red 146, C. I.Pigment Red 245, C. I. Pigment Yellow 1, C. I. Pigment Yellow 3, C. I.Pigment Yellow 12, C. I. Pigment Yellow 13, C. I. Pigment Yellow 14, C.I. Pigment Yellow 17, C. I. Pigment Yellow 34, C. I. Pigment Yellow 55,C. I. Pigment Yellow 74, C. I. Pigment Yellow 83, C. I. Pigment Yellow95, C. I. Pigment Yellow 166, C. I. Pigment Yellow 167, C. I. PigmentOrange 5, C. I. Pigment Orange 13, C. I. Pigment Orange 16, C. I.Pigment Violet 1, C. I. Pigment Violet 3, C. I. Pigment Violet 19, C. I.Pigment Violet 23, C. I. Pigment Violet 50, and C. I. Pigment Green 7.

The pseudo pigments obtained by coloring resin emulsions with dyesinclude, for example, those obtained by coloring resins comprisingcopolymers of acrylonitrile, styrene and methyl methacrylate with dyes.

Any of direct dyes, acid dyes, food colors and basic dyes can be usedfor the water-soluble dyes.

The direct dyes include, for example, C. I. Direct Black 17, ditto 19,ditto 22, ditto 32, ditto 38, ditto 51 and ditto 71, C. I. Direct Yellow4, ditto 26, ditto 44 and ditto 50, C. I. Direct Red 1, ditto 4, ditto23, ditto 31, ditto 37, ditto 39, ditto 75, ditto 80, ditto 81, ditto83, ditto 225, ditto 226 and ditto 227, C. I. Direct Blue 1, ditto 15,ditto 71, ditto 86, ditto 106 and ditto 119.

The acid dyes include, for example, C. I. Acid Black 1, ditto 2, ditto24, ditto 26, ditto 31, ditto 52, ditto 107, ditto 109, ditto 110, ditto119 and ditto 154, C. I. Acid Yellow 7, ditto 17, ditto 19, ditto 23,ditto 25, ditto 29, ditto 38, ditto 42, ditto 49, ditto 61, ditto 72,ditto 78, ditto 110, ditto 127, ditto 135, ditto 141 and ditto 142, C.I. Acid Red 8, ditto 9, ditto 14, ditto 18, ditto 26, ditto 27, ditto35, ditto 37, ditto 51, ditto 52, ditto 57, ditto 82, ditto 87, ditto92, ditto 94, ditto 115, ditto 129, ditto 131, ditto 138, ditto 186,ditto 249, ditto 254, ditto 265 and ditto 276, C. I. Acid Violet 15 andditto 17, C. I. Acid Blue 1, ditto 7, ditto 9, ditto 15, ditto 22, ditto23, ditto 25, ditto 40, ditto 41, ditto 43, ditto 62, ditto 78, ditto83, ditto 90, ditto 93, ditto 103, ditto 112, ditto 113, and ditto 158,C. I. Acid Green 3, ditto 9, ditto 16, ditto 25 and ditto 27.

A large part of the food colors is included in the direct dyes and theacid dyes, and one example of those which are not included thereinincludes C. I. Food Yellow 3.

The basic dyes include, for example, C. I. Basic Yellow 1, ditto 2 andditto 21, C. I. Basic Orange 2, ditto 14 and ditto 32, C. I. Basic Red1, ditto 2, ditto 9 and ditto 14, C. I. Basic Violet 1, ditto 3 andditto 7, C. I. Basic Green 4, C. I. Basic Brown 12, C. I. Basic Black 2and ditto 8.

These dyes each may be used alone or in combination of two or more kindsthereof.

A content of these colorants is 0.5 to 40% by weight, preferably 1 to30% by weight based on the total amount of the ink composition.

The perfume used in the present invention includes, for example, thosedescribed in the following 1) to 6), and they each may be used alone orin combination of two or more kinds thereof:

1) Essential oils such as grape fruit oil, orange oil, lemon oil, limeoil, ylang ylang oil, cammomile oil, jasmin oil, hiba oil, peppermintoil, lavender oil and rosemary oil.

2) Terpenes such as α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene.

3) Alcohols such as linalool, 1-menthol, geraniol, borneol, lavandulol,hexyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol (Rose P), furfuryl alcohol,cyclotene, maltol, eugenol and α-phenylethanol.

4) Aldehydes such as heptanal, octanal, dodecanal, tetradecanal,hexadecanal, citral, lyral, benzaldehyde and cyclamen aldehyde.

5) Esters such as ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, amyl acetate, linallylacetate, benzyl acetate, dimethylbenzyl-carbinyl acetate and benzylpropionate.

6) Aromatic compounds such as nootkatone, ethylpyrazine, lemonterpeneless, orange terpeneless, ethylvanillin and furfurylmercaptan.

In the present invention, capable of being used as well are mixedperfumes prepared by suitably combining the respective perfumesdescribed above, for example, banana perfume, blueberry perfume, vanillaperfume, mint perfume, apple perfume, peach perfume, melon perfume,pineapple perfume, grape perfume, lilac perfume and jasmin perfume.

For example, the banana perfume can be prepared by suitably blendingvanillin, ethylvanillin, n-hexanal, isoamyl alcohol, trans-2-hexenal,n-butanol, isoamyl acetate, butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, diacetyl,ethyl acetate, hexyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl isovalerate,cis-3-hexenol, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, acetic acid, isoeugenol, ethylbutyrate and a solvent. Further, the pineapple perfume can be preparedby suitably blending benzyl acetate, orange oil 3-fold, vanillin,isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl heptanoate,ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butyrate and allyl hexanoate.

Further, capable of being used as well are commercially availablevarious mixed perfumes, for example, vanilla perfume [Vanilla BVK-3359(manufactured by Takasago International Corporation)], mint perfume[Mint THP-8148 (manufactured by T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd.)], banana perfume[Banana T-1510 (manufactured by Yamamoto Perfumery Co., Ltd.)] andblueberry perfume [Blueberry V-647 (manufactured by Yamamoto PerfumeryCo., Ltd.)].

A content of these perfumes falls in a range of 0.01 to 10% by weight,preferably 0.1 to 6% by weight based on the total amount of the inkcomposition.

If a content of these perfumes is less than 0.01% by weight, fragrancedoes not last long and comes to be not smelt. On the other hand, if itexceeds 10% by weight, an adverse effect is exerted on the agingstability of the ink composition. Accordingly, both ranges are notpreferred.

In the present invention, the perfume is used in a range of the content(0.01 to 10% by weight) described above and added preferably in anamount of 70% or less, more preferably 60% or less in terms of a weightratio based on at least one (one adduct or a mixture of two or moreadducts) selected from the group consisting of the alkylene oxideadducts of polyglycerin, the alkylene oxide adducts of glycerin and thealkylene oxide adducts of trimethylolpropane.

Setting this weight ratio makes it possible to further display thefeathering inhibiting effect, the fragrance durability-improving effectand the perfume separation-inhibiting effect.

In the present invention, when the pigment notably settles down, aviscosity-controlling agent is preferably added from a viewpoint ofpreventing settling.

The viscosity-controlling agent used includes at least one selected fromsynthetic polymers, natural gums, celluloses and polysaccharides.

The synthetic high polymers include, for example, polyacrylic acid andcross-linking type copolymers thereof, polyvinyl alcohol,polyvinylpyrrolidone and derivatives thereof, and polyvinyl methyl etherand derivatives thereof. The natural rubbers and the polysaccharidesinclude, for example, tragacanth gum, guar gum, locust bean gum andxanthan gum. The celluloses include methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,hydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose.

To be specific, included are commercial products such as “Junron PW-111”manufactured by Nihon Junyaku Co., Ltd., “Hiviswako 104” manufactured byWako Pure Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd., “KELZAN”, “KELZAN AR”, K1A96”,K1A1120,”“RHEOZAN” and “K7C233” manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd.,“JAGUAR HP-8”, “JAGUAR HP-60”, “RHODOPOL 23” and “RHODOPOL 50MC”manufactured by Rhone Poulenc Japan Ltd., and “Echo Gum GM” manufacturedby Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

A content of these viscosity-controlling agents is preferably 0.1 to1.5% by weight based on the total amount of the ink composition. Thecontent varies depending on the kind of the viscosity-controllingagents, and it is preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by weight in the case of thesynthetic polymers and preferably 0.1 to 0.8% by weight in the case ofthe natural polysaccharides.

If a content of these viscosity-controlling agents is less than 0.1% byweight, the effect of adding the viscosity-controlling agent can not beexhibited. On the other hand, if it exceeds 1.5% by weight, the ink isreduced in fluidity so that writing is liable to be inferior because ofthe poor flowability.

Other components (optional components) which are used for an inkcomposition for a writing instrument can further be added, if necessary,to the ink composition of the present invention as long as the effectsof the present invention are not damaged.

Capable of being suitably selected and used as the other usablecomponents are, for example, solvents including water-soluble polyhydricalcohols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerin,cellosolves such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (methyl cellosolve)and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (ethyl cellosolve), carbitols suchas diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (methyl carbitol) and diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether (ethyl carbitol) and glycol ether esters such asethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate; pH adjusting agents includingammonia, urea, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine,alkalin metal salts of carbonic acid and phosphoric acid such as sodiumtripolyphosphate and sodium carbonate, and hydroxides of alkalin metalssuch as sodium hydroxide; preservatives or fungicides including phenol,sodium omadine, sodium pentachlorophenol, 1,2-benzisothiazoline-3-one,2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)pyridine, alkalin metal salts ofbenzoic acid, sorbic acid and dehydroacetic acid such as sodiumbenzoate, and benzimidazole base compounds; rust preventives such asbenzotriazole, dicyclohexylammonium nitrite, diisopropylammonium nitriteand tolyltriazole; surfactants such as derivatives of polyoxyethylene,polyoxypropylene or polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene such aspolyoxyethylene lauryl ether, derivatives of glycerin, diglycerin orpolyglycerin such as tetraglyceryl distearate, sorbitan derivatives suchas sorbitan monooleate, and surfactants having fluorinated alkyl groupssuch as perfluoroalkylphosphoric acid esters; lubricants and wettingagents including calcium linoleate, sodium ricinoleate, potassiumoleate, sodium oleate, phosphoric acid esters and polyether-modifiedsilicones such as polyethylene glycol adducts of dimethylpolysiloxane;and defoaming agents.

Water used in the present invention includes purified water andion-exchanged water, and a content thereof is a remainder (balance) ofthe total content of the respective components described above.

The water based ink composition for a writing instrument of the presentinvention can suitably used for a ball point pen, a brush pen, a felttip pen and a marker.

In the water based ink composition for a writing instrument of thepresent invention thus constituted, in order to solve the respectiveproblems described above caused when using the perfume, added as well asthe colorant, the perfume and water is at least one selected from thegroup consisting of the alkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin, thealkylene oxide adducts of glycerin and the alkylene oxide adducts oftrimethylolpropane, which have a function as a feathering inhibitor, afunction as a fragrance durability-improving agent and a function forinhibiting separation of the perfume, whereby exhibited are specificactions that the lines are less liable to cause feathering and fragranceis durable and that the perfume is dispersed and retained in an aqueousmedium in a stable state (these points shall further be explained indetail in examples described later).

EXAMPLES

The present invention shall be explained below in detail with referenceto examples and comparative examples, but it is a matter of course thatthe present invention shall not be restricted to the examples describedbelow.

Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3

Water based ink compositions for a writing instrument were preparedaccording to blending formation shown in the following Table 1.

The water based ink compositions obtained in Examples 1 to 10 andComparative Examples 1 to 3 were evaluated for feathering of the ink,fragrance, separation of the perfume, coagulation of the pigment andwriting feeling by the following evaluation methods. Ball point pens forevaluation were prepared to evaluate feathering of the ink, fragranceand writing feeling.

The results thereof are shown in the following Table 1.

Preparation of Ball Point Pens for Evaluation

The respective inks were charged into refills comprising apolypropylene-made ink reservoir with an inner diameter of 4.0 mm and alength of 115 mm having no feed and a stainless steel-made tip with aball having a diameter of 0.7 mm to prepare ball point pens forevaluation (UM-100 manufactured by Mitsubishi Pencil K. K.).

Evaluation Method of Feathering

The ball point pen was used to write on a paper face (wood free paper)and sensorily evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.

Evaluation criteria:

∘: no feathering and clear lines

Δ: feathering observed and unclear lines

×: very unclear lines due to feathering

Evaluation Method of Fragrance

The ball point pen was used to write on a paper face (wood free paper)and sensurily evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.

Evaluation criteria:

∘: smell in writing, and the lines smell even after 5 hours

×: smell in writing, but the lines do not smell after 5 hours

Evaluation Method of Separation of the Perfume

The respective inks were tightly sealed in a vessel and left standing ina constant temperature chamber of 50° C. for 7 days, and then it wasleft cooling to evaluate the state of the inks according to thefollowing evaluation criteria.

Evaluation criteria:

∘: no change from before the test

×: perfume separated

Evaluation Method of Coagulation of the Pigment

The respective inks were tightly sealed in a vessel and left standing atroom temperature for one week, and then it was passed through a sieve of100 μm and evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.This pigment was evaluated for coagulation in order to evaluate adispersion stability of the pigment.

Evaluation criteria:

∘: no residue

×: the ink is hard to pass through the sieve or residue was present onthe sieve

Evaluation Method of Writing Feeling

The ball point pen was used to write on a paper face (wood free paper)and evaluated the writing feeling according to the following evaluationcriteria.

Evaluation criteria:

⊚: very smooth writing feeling

∘: smooth writing feeling

Δ: writing feeling having a little poor smoothness

×: very heavy writing feeling, and unpleasant feeling such as scratchingis given (unusable level)

TABLE 1 (% by weight) Comparative Example Example Remark 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 1 2 3 Blending Formation Colorant Blue pigment (1) 10.0 10.0 10.010.0 Yellow pigment (2) 10.0 10.0 10.0 White pigment (3) 20.0 20.0 2.020.0 10.0 Pearl pigment (4) 5.0 Lubricant A (5) 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.60.6 Lubricant B (6) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Propylene glycol — 5.0 5.0 5.05.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Xanthan gum (7) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.10.1 0.1 0.1 Alkylene oxide adducts (8) 5.0 10.0 5.0 5.0 3.0 ofpolyglycerin, (9) 5.0 5.0 5.0 glycerin and (10)  5.0 3.0trimethylolprepane (11)  5.0 Perfume Perfume A (12)  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0Perfume B (13)  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Perfume C (14)  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 PerfumeD (15)  3.0 Water (purified water) — 78.4 71.4 78.3 68.4 68.4 83.3 86.378.5 79.0 67.3 83.4 83.5 83.4 Evaluation Feathering ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯◯ Δ ◯ Fragrance ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ X X X Separation of perfume ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ X X Δ Coagulation of pigment ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ X X XWriting feeling ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ◯ ⊚ ◯ ◯ ◯

The remarks shown in Table 1 mean the followings:

(1) Phthalocyanine blue (Chromofine Blue 4965 manufactured byDainichiseika Color & Chemicals MFG. Co., Ltd.)

(2) Lacqutimine color (Golden Yellow FL2R Conc manufactured byDainichiseika Color & Chemicals MFG. Co., Ltd.)

(3) Titanium oxide: Tipure R-900 (manufactured by Du Pont Co., Ltd.)

(4) Iriodin 303 Royal Gold (manufactured by Merck Japan, Ltd.)

(5) Phosphoric acid ester: Phosphanol LE-700 (manufactured by TohoChemical Industry Co., Ltd.)

(6) Potassium oleate

(7) KELZAN (manufactured by Sansho Co., Ltd.)

(8) Ethylene oxide 13 mole adduct of diglycerin

(9) Ethylene oxide 20 mole adduct of diglycerin

(10) Ethylene oxide 20 mole adduct of glycerin

(11) Propylene oxide 10 mole adduct of trimethylolpropane

(12) Banana perfume [Banana T-1510 (manufactured by Yamamoto PerfumeryCo., Ltd.)

(13) Blueberry perfume [Blueberry V-647 (manufactured by YamamotoPerfumery Co., Ltd.)

(14) Vanilla perfume [Vanilla BVk-3359 (manufactured by TakasogoInternational Corporation)

(15) Mint perfume [Mint THP-8148 (manufactured by T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd.)

CONSIDERATION OF TABLE 1

As apparent from the results shown in Table 1 described above, it hasbeen confirmed that in Examples 1 to 10 falling in the scope of thepresent invention, feathering of the ink is not observed and fragrancelasts long as compared with Comparative Examples 1 to 3 falling outsidethe scope of the present invention and that separation of the perfumeand coagulation of the pigment are not caused and very smooth writingfeeling is gained.

In contrast with this, Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are cases in whichthe alkylene oxide adducts which are the essential components in thepresent invention and have a function as a feathering inhibitor, afunction as a fragrance durability-improving agent and a function forinhibiting separation of the perfume are not contained, and it has beenconfirmed that in these cases, all evaluation items of feathering of theink, fragrance, separation of the perfume and coagulation of the pigmentcan not be satisfied.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water based ink composition for a writinginstrument containing at least one selected from the group consisting ofalkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerin, alkylene oxide adducts ofglycerin and alkylene oxide adducts of trimethylolpropane and furthercontaining a colorant, a perfume, a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol,and water.
 2. The water based ink composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition comprises at least one alkylene oxide adduct ofpolyglycerin.
 3. The water based ink composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition comprises at least one alkylene oxide adduct of glycerin. 4.The water based ink composition of claim 1, wherein the compositioncomprises at least one alkylene oxide adduct of trimethylolpropane. 5.The water based ink composition of claim 1, wherein the compositioncomprises from 0.5 to 40% by weight of alkylene oxide adduct ofpolyglycerin, alkylene oxide adduct of glycerin, and alkylene oxideadduct of trimethylolpropane.
 6. The water based ink composition ofclaim 1, wherein the composition comprises from 5 to 20% by weight ofalkylene oxide adduct of polyglycerin, alkylene oxide adduct ofglycerin, and alkylene oxide adduct of trimethylolpropane.
 7. The waterbased ink composition of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble polyhydricalcohol is ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or glycerin.